Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Today in History for June 27, 2018

Benjamin Meek Miller

June 27, 1775 - The Continental Congress dispatched Major
General Philip John Schuyler to Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point to examine
the troops, their supplies and their ability to navigate Lake Champlain and
Lake George, as well as “obtain the best intelligence he can of the disposition
of the Canadians and Indians of Canada.”

June 27, 1778 – During the Battle of Monmouth, Aaron Burr
collapsed on the battlefield with heat stroke and even though Burr recovered, a
dramatic decline in his health would cause him to resign his commission with
the army in 1779.

June 27, 1787 - Edward Gibbon completed the final volume of
"The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" in his
garden in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was published the following May.

June 27, 1811 – Tecumseh again visited Governor Harrison at
Vincennes. He objected persistently to the treaties that had been made, wherein
lands were said to be sold to the U.S. by single tribes of Indians. He claimed
that one tribe could not sell lands belonging more or less, as he claimed, to
all the tribes in common.

June 27, 1825 – During his tour of the United States, the
Marquis de Lafayette arrived late (around 10 p.m.) in Claremont, New Hampshire.

June 27, 1829 – In Genoa, Italy,
English scientist James Smithson died after a long illness, leaving behind a
will with a peculiar footnote. In the event that his only nephew died without
any heirs, Smithson decreed that the whole of his estate would go to “the
United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of
knowledge.” Six years after his death, his nephew, Henry James Hungerford,
indeed died without children, so on July 1, 1836, the U.S. Congress authorized
acceptance of Smithson’s gift, and on August 10, 1846, the act establishing the
Smithsonian Institution was signed into law by President James K. Polk.

June 27, 1842 – Confederate soldier John A. McCants was
born. He served as a private with the Monroe Guards and enlisted on March 26,
1861 at Pineville in Monroe County. He was promoted to corporal and was present
at all musters between May 13, 1861 and Dec. 31, 1861. He was wounded at
Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863 and furloughed home for 30 days. He was
admitted into the Selma General Hospital while on furlough and remained on
furlough until July 30, 1863. Was listed as a prisoner of war on May 5, 1864.
He died on March 5, 1915 and is buried at Bells Landing Presbyterian Cemetery
at Tinela.

June 27, 1844 - Joseph
Smith Jr., founder of the Latter-day Saints movement, and his
brother Hyrum Smith, were killed by an anti-Mormon mob at the Carthage,
Illinois jail.

June 27, 1857 – In an expedition funded by the Royal
Geographical Society, Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke set out
from the east coast of Zanzibar in Africa, heading west in search of an “inland
sea” that had been described by Arab traders and slavers. Burton’s mission was
to study the area's tribes and to find out what exports might be possible from
the region. It was hoped that the expedition might lead to the discovery of the
source of the River Nile, although this was not an explicit aim.

June 27, 1861 – During the Civil
War, Baltimore, Maryland’s chief of police George P. Kane was arrested on the
order of General Nathaniel Banks because of his Confederate sympathies.

June 27, 1862 – The Battle of Gaines's Mill, sometimes known
as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took
place in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles
(Peninsula Campaign) of the Civil War. Jerre Downs, John Gaff, Caleb Garner and
John Garner, all of the Conecuh Guards killed at the Battle of Gaines’s Farm.
Capt. William Lee, 1st Lt. James W. Darby, 2nd Lt. John G. Guice, Sgt. William
D. Clarke, 4th Cpl. Joseph A. Thomas, John D. Hyde, Julius A. Mertins and
Fielding Lynch, all of the Conecuh Guards, were all wounded at the Battle of
Gaines’s Mill in Va. Charles Floyd of the Conecuh Guards was wounded at Gaines’s
Farm and moved to Texas after the war. Francis M. Grice of the Conecuh Guards
lost his left arm at Gaines’s Farm, became sutler for the 4th Alabama Infantry
and moved to Escambia County after the war. William Hodges of the Conecuh Guard
was wounded at Gaines’s Farm only to be taken prisoner later at Lookout
Mountain and died near Washington, Ga. in 1865. William Horton of Conecuh
Guards was wounded in the shoulder and leg at Gaines’s Farm and returned to
live in Butler County after war. William W. Johnson of Conecuh Guards was
wounded and disabled at Gaines’s Farm, was honorably discharged and returned to
Conecuh County after war. John Myers of the Conecuh Guards was wounded at
Gaines’s Farm, dropped from the unit’s roll in 1863 and was killed in Butler
County after war. William Quinley of the Conecuh Guards was wounded at Gaines’s
Farm, was later wounded at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863 and deserted to the enemy
in 1865. Thomas Robbins of the Conecuh Guards died from wounds received at
Gaines’s Farm. Henry C. Stearns of the Conecuh Guards was wounded at Gaines’s
Farm and returned to Conecuh County after war. Nick Stallworth of the Conecuh
Guards was wounded at Gaines’s Farm, was honorably discharged in 1862 and
returned to Conecuh County. Mich. B. Salter of the Conecuh Guards was wounded
at Gaines’s Farm and later at Gettysburg, where he had his right arm amputated.
He was honorably discharged and returned to Conecuh County. Evans Sheffield of
the Conecuh Guards was wounded at Gaines’ Farm and later wounded at Gettysburg,
returned to Conecuh County, where he was killed by a falling tree.

June 27, 1862 – During the Civil
War, the Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia was fought and was the third
engagement of the Seven Days' campaign. Taking nearly an entire day; Jackson
couldn't defeat a smaller force. Longstreet finally broke the 5th Corps lines.
Confederates John Bell Hood and George Pickett broke through Union general Fitz
John Porter's line, forcing Union troops south of the Chickahominy River and
severing McClellan's supply line to Eltham's Landing (White House, West Point).

June 27, 1862 – During the Civil
War, skirmishes were fought at Fair Oaks, Virginia and at Stewart’s Plantation
in Arkansas. An action also occurred at Garnett’s Farm.

June 27, 1862 – During the Civil
War, John Pope assumed command of his new Army of Virginia in Virginia.

June 27, 1863 – During the Civil
War, the siege of Vicksburg, Miss. entered Day 40.

June 27, 1863 - It did not seem
like a great bit of timing at the moment. A massive Rebel army was headed into
the North. One army was occupied with the Vicksburg siege. The other army, that
of the Potomac, was much closer but not famous for fast moving. So was this the
best time to change commanders of this army? That was precisely what Abraham
Lincoln did on this day, ignominiously sacking Joseph Hooker and replacing him
with the dour, uncommunicative and little known commander of the army’s Fifth
Corps, George Gordon Meade. Already on the march, Meade had to be awakened in
his tent to be told of the change of command. While Meade had to cope with
this, the Confederates roamed the interior of Pennsylvania almost at will.

June 27, 1864 – Confederate and Union forces clash at the
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia as Union General William T. Sherman
launched a major attack on Confederate General Joseph Johnston's army. Three
thousand Union troops fell, compared with just 500 Confederates.

June 27, 1864 – During the Civil
War, a skirmish was fought at Big Cove Valley, Ala.

June 27, 1864 – During the Civil
War, skirmishes were fought near Dunksville, Missouri and near Brownsville,
Arkansas. An affair also occurred at Crittenden, Kentucky.

June 27, 1872 – Poet and short story
writer Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio.

June 27, 1874 - Using new high-powered rifles to devastating effect, 28
buffalo hunters repulsed a much larger force of attacking Indians at an old
trading post in the Texas panhandle called Adobe Walls.

June 27, 1876 - Dave Force of the Philadelphia Athletics
became the first National League player to get six hits in a nine-inning game.

June 27, 1879 – A baseball game was scheduled to be played
on this Friday evening between the “picked nine” and the “scrub nine” teams of
the Evergreen Baseball Club.

June 27, 1879 - The closing exercises of the Monroeville
Institute were scheduled to take place on this Friday. The examination of
classes was to begin at 9 a.m. At noon, there was to be, on the grounds, an
“ample supply of good things for the pupils and for visiting friends.” At
night, there was to be an exhibition in elocution on the part of pupils, with
an original oration by one of the older boys. The award of school medals for
proficiency would then be read out and the presentation address was to be made
by Col. B.L. Hibbard, who had “kindly consented to discharge that office.”

June 27, 1880 – Helen Adams Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Ala.
Having lost both sight and hearing by illness as a small child, Keller's life
story and activism inspired new attitudes toward those with handicaps.

June 27, 1898 – The first solo circumnavigation of the globe
was completed by Joshua Slocum from Briar Island, Nova Scotia.

June 27, 1903 - The Democratic Executive Committee of
Conecuh County, Ala. was scheduled to meet at Evergreen on this Saturday to
consider the matter of the vacancy existing in office of Representative caused
by the death of the late Dr. Andrew Jay. S.P. Dunn was Chairman of the
Committee.

June 27, 1907 - There will be a public installation of the
new Masonic officers at Tinela on this day. “Everybody and our neighbors with
well-filled baskets” were invited to attend and participate in the exercises.

June 27, 1907 – The Monroe Journal reported that later
information confirmed the early reports concerning the seriousness of the fire
at Manistee during the previous week. The planing mill, dry kilns and
practically the entire stock of lumber on the yards were consumed, together
with the company hotel and five dwellings. The loss was estimated at $250,000,
which is partially covered by insurance. The company planned to rebuild at an
early date. The Messrs. Herlong were held in the highest esteem by area
residents and had their profound sympathy in this heavy loss.

June 27, 1907 – The Monroe Journal reported that a little boy, about 10 years old, died in great agony near Peterman the previous
week as the result of drinking carbolic acid. The boy and some other children
were playing in an abandoned out-building when they discovered a number of old
bottles, one of which was partly filled with some unknown fluid. The boy
proceeded to satisfy his curiosity by taking a drink. His peculiar behavior
alarmed the family and a doctor was sent for but arrived too late to save the
child’s life. On examination, the contents of the bottle proved to be carbolic
acid.

June 27, 1907 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Hon.
I.B. Slaughter went to McIntosh to attend the funeral of his nephew, John Shomo
Slaughter, who died at Fort Worth, Texas. The deceased was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. John M. Slaughter, aged 21 years. Typhoid fever was the cause of his
death.

June 27, 1914 - Colonel Edward
House, close adviser to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, met with Foreign
Secretary Edward Grey of Britain, over lunch in London, as part of a diplomatic
tour of Europe that House made during the early summer of 1914.

June 27, 1915 – Writer and activist Grace Lee Boggs was born
in Providence, R.I.

June 27, 1920 – “Dollars and Sense,” a movie version of Alabama author Octavus Roy Cohen's book “Two Cents Worth of Humaneness,”
was released.

June 27, 1922 – The American Library Association awarded the
first Newberry Medal for children’s literature to “The Story of Mankind” by
Hendrik Willem van Loon.

June 27, 1926 – American poet Frank O’Hara was born Francis
Russell O’Hara in Baltimore, Md., or rather, it's the day that Frank O'Hara
celebrates his birthday. He was actually born in March, but his parents lied to
him and said he was born three months later, to keep him from finding out he
was conceived before they were married.

June 27, 1928 - T.C. Grace, a well-known citizen of Conecuh
County, living in the Arkadelphia community, died at his home on this Wednesday
evening at six o’clock. Grace had held a responsible position with the Dunham
Lumber Co. for the previous 15 years. Up until eight years before, Grace was a
citizen of Butler County, in which place he had a host of friends and relatives
to mourn his death. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, membership
being with the Garland Lodge.

June 27, 1933 - A delegation from Conecuh County, Ala.,
composed of Probate Judge L.W. Price, Evergreen Mayor J.L. Kelly,
Representative J.E. Kelly and M.C. Brooks, chairman of the Board of Revenue,
spent this Tuesday in Montgomery, where they went to present a plea to Gov.
Benjamin M. Miller and State Highway Director L.G. Smith for the completion of
the paving on Highway No. 31. There were approximately 60 miles of this highway
between Mobile and Montgomery that was unpaved, consisting of a stretch from
Evergreen to McKenzie; between Brewton and Atmore; between Atmore and Stapleton
and Cochrane Bridge across Mobile Bay. The delegation received no definite
assurance from either Miller or Smith, except that their request would receive
most careful consideration at the proper time.

June 27, 1936 – National Book Award-winning poet Lucille
Clifton was born Thelma Lucille Sayles in Depew, N.Y.

June 27, 1939 - Principal filming ended on “Gone With the
Wind” as one of the most famous scenes in movie history was filmed - Rhett
Butler and Scarlett O’Hara parting in “Gone with the Wind.” Director Victor
Fleming also shot the scene using the alternate line, “Frankly, my dear, I just
don’t care,” in case the film censors objected to the word “damn.” The censors
approved the movie but fined producer David O. Selznick $5,000 for including
the curse.

June 27, 1941
– Bill Baxley, the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, was born in Dothan,
Ala.

June 27, 1947 - Stuart Motors continued to lead the softball
league defeating the FFA team on this Friday night 16 to 7 in Evergreen. Nine
errors by the FFA team contributed heavily to their defeat. The Boy Scouts hit
hard to beat the National Guard 12 to 6. Logue, Scout hurler, whiffed eight
National Guard batsmen in gaining his second win of the season.

June 27, 1948 - The Evergreen Greenies were scheduled to
play Brewton in Evergreen, Ala. on this Sunday in a Tri-County Baseball League
game. This was a change in schedule. Evergreen originally was scheduled to
played in Brewton on this day and to have played a home game in Evergreen the
following Thursday. To avoid conflict with the professional Millers team, the
games were changed. The June 27 game was considered crucial for Evergreen
because Brewton was the only team in the league that had defeated Evergreen so
far that season. Game time was at 3 p.m. at Brooks Stadium.

June 27, 1950
– The United States decided to send troops to fight in the Korean War.

June 27, 1953 – Mary Anderson of Greene County, Ala., the
inventor of the windshield wiper, died at the age of 87 in Monteagle, Tenn.

June 27, 1953 – National Book Award-winning novelist Alice
McDermott was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

June 27, 1957 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the
Dodgers held onto their lead in the Evergreen Jr. League and the Chicks
retained their lead in the Minor League during the previous week. A number of
games were cancelled due to rain. Due to heavy rains on Mon., June 24, and
power trouble on Tues., June 25, all games scheduled were stacked. League
President Ward Alexander planned to notify teams when new date had been set.

June 27, 1957 – The Evergreen Courant reported that rain
over the weekend washed out most of the weekend matches in the Evergreen Golf
Club’s Summer Tournament, but several “diehards” braved the elements and
completed their matches. Golfers in the tourney included Herman Bolden, Brown
Boykin, Elmo Grace, Thad Ivey, Bill McGehee and Bill Millsap.

June 27, 1959 – Frank Pate of Castleberry, Ala. was bit by
rattlesnake that was 5-1/2 feet long, weighed 12 pounds and had 11 rattles. He
saved his own life by gashing his leg with a pocketknife, causing it to bleed,
before seeking treatment at the Conecuh County Hospital.

June 27, 1961 - A television version of Alabama author Babs
H. Deal's story "Make My Death Bed" was broadcast as part of the “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”series.

June 27-July 7, 1963 - The 22nd annual session of
the Beulah Camp meeting was scheduled to be held. Principal speakers for the
1963 meeting were to be Dr. J.C. McPheeters of Wilmore, Ky. and the Rev.
Maurice W. Stevens, also of Wilmore, both well-known evangelists. Dr. J.W.
Stabler of Mobile was president of the camp. Other officers of the incorporated
camp were the Rev. C.H. Williams of Pensacola, Fla., first vice-president;
Edwin Johnson of Mobile, second vice-president; the Rev. O.D. Williams of
Plateau, secretary; and W.C. Nicholas of Excel, treasurer.

June 27, 1963 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Rayburn
H. Nall, seaman, U.S. Navy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Belton H. Nall of Lenox,
Ala., was serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Valley Forge, which
participated in operation “Wind Sock” off the coast of California June 3-14.

June 27, 1963 – Owassa, Ala. Postmaster L.M. Brown announced
that Owassa had been assigned the new five-digit zip code of 36466. The new Zip
Code system was scheduled to go into effect nationally on July 1.

June 27, 1963 - President John F.
Kennedy appointed Henry Cabot Lodge, his former Republican political opponent,
to succeed Frederick E. Nolting as ambassador to Vietnam.

June 27, 1966 - The gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows”
premiered on ABC. One of the most beloved characters from the cult TV show,
175-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins, was added ten months into the series run
in an effort to boost low ratings.

June 27, 1968 – U.S. forces begin to evacuate Khe Sahn. The
U.S. command in Saigon confirmed that U.S. forces have begun to evacuate the
military base at Khe Sanh, 14 miles below the Demilitarized Zone and six miles
from the Laotian border.

June 27, 1973 - Former White House counsel John W. Dean told
the Senate Watergate Committee about an "enemies list" that was kept
by the Nixon White House.

June 27, 1974 – Alabama State Trooper Sgt. Julian D.
Stuckey, 36, commander of the Dothan State Trooper Post, was killed in an
accident about one mile south of the Owassa, Ala. Exit on Interstate Highway 65
about 1 p.m. He was traveling south when a tire blew out, causing his car to
leave the road and strike a guardrail, killing him instantly.

June 27, 1976
– Major League Baseball catcher Johnny Estrada was born in Hayward, Calif. He
would go on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves, the
Arizona Diamondbacks, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals.

June 27, 1977 - During a game against the Cincinnati Reds,
Mobile, Ala. native Willie McCovey became the first player to hit two home runs
in one inning twice in his career. The first was on April 12, 1973.

June 27, 1985 – American Association of State Highway and
Transportation officials voted to decertify the iconic Route 66 after 59 years
and remove all its highway signs. Measuring 2,200 miles, it stretched from
Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., passing through eight states. According to a
New York Times article about its decertification, most of Route 66 followed a
path through the wilderness forged in 1857 by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Edward Beale
at the head of a caravan of camels and over the years, wagon trains and
cattlemen eventually made way for trucks and passenger automobiles.

June 27, 1986 - Robby Thompson of the San Francisco Giants
was caught stealing bases four times in one game.

June 27, 1990 - Jose Canseco signed a contract with the
Oakland A's worth $4,700,000 per year.

June 27, 1991 – Evergreen’s 13-year-old Babe Ruth all-stars
were scheduled to represent Conecuh County, Ala. in the all-star tournament in
Brewton. They were scheduled to play Atmore’s all-star team on this day at 7:30
p.m.

June 27, 2002 – The Monroe Journal reported that seriously
ill or injured patients in Monroe County would then have quick access to
medical facilities in the southeastern United States. A non-profit air
ambulance service, Eagles’ Wings Air Ambulance, Inc., was to begin service that
summer. A Piper Cheyenne airplane had been outfitted with medical equipment
designed for the ill or those patients who need organ transplants, Terry
Chapman, president of the new company, said. Chapman said the idea for the air
ambulance service came from Pilots for Christ, which was an international
organization that provided transportation for people in medical and other types
of emergencies.

June 27-29, 2003 - The Evergreen Youth 18-and-Under
basketball team had made it to the Alabama Sports Festival State Basketball
Tournament to be held in Huntsville June 27-29, 2003. They were scheduled to
play two games on Fri., June 27, and two games on Sat., June 28. If they won
their pool, they were scheduled to play in the championship game on Sun., June
29, at 10 a.m. Coach Ernest Boykin said his team had got a chance but they had
to play smart.

June 27, 2003 – Evergreen’s annual Relay for Life was
scheduled to be held on this Friday. The 2003 Relay For Life was moved to
Middleton Field Airport from downtown Evergreen. The event was scheduled to
begin at 6 p.m. with the Survivor’s Reception. The actual relay was scheduled to
begin at 7 p.m. with John Brock serving as Master of Ceremonies. The previous
year’s relay raised over $35,000.

June 27, 2004 - The Boston Red Sox scored 10 runs before
making an out against the Florida Marlins. The final score was 25-8.

June 27, 2007 – The Mizzell Mansion in Opp, Ala. was added
to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.